Cultivation

• Larger cultivars or hybrids need moisture-retentive, free-draining soil, ideally loosened with a fork before planting, in sun or part shade. Digitalis purpurea and its cultivars will grow on clay with nothing more than a mulch of well-rotted organic matter, but do not reach the same stature as those on richer soils. • Species such as D. ferruginea and D. lanata prefer hotter, drier and more gravelly soil. They all dislike competition from other plants, so do not plant them too close together or expect them to compete with vigorous perennials. They are generally trouble free in cultivation. • The best size to buy for successful growing on is in 9cm pots. Most will flower the same year if planted before May. If you don’t want the seed, cut back the flowering spikes after blooming and new flowering sideshoots will form.